Albany readies for 2025 Anzac Day services with usual crowds expected to reflect in WA’s “home of Anzac”

Anzac Day in Albany is expected to be bigger than ever for 2025, with the two annual services and march set to draw large crowds to the city. The RSL Albany Sub-Branch services director Michael Tugwell said there were some changes in store for 2025, but the day would remain the proud celebration of servicemen and women’s courage and sacrifice that WA’s “home of the Anzac” has become so renowned for. Mr Tugwell said the day was very much “community orientated”, with dozens of volunteers and local businesses getting involved to support the events. “The RSL run it, and we’re strongly supported by the City (of Albany), but it’s very much a community event, and people come from far and wide to to be here on the day, so it’s a very important occasion,” he said. “We get glowing feedback every year from those who come, be it from overseas or interstate, about the significance of it, of looking out over King George Sound and you can almost see those 38- to 40,000 shadows out there, so from that perspective, it is a place of great importance.” Dawn service, Desert Mounted Corps Memorial, 5.30am to 6am The dawn service will be held on Mt Clarence, and live streamed to the Albany Entertainment Centre and the Anzac Peace Park. Shuttle buses will run from both the Middleton Beach bus port and the Albany Entertainment Centre from 3.15am at 10 to 15-minute intervals until 4.45am. Capt. James Topham of the New Zealand Defence Force, will give the formal address. Bethel School student Allegra Palmer will read a letter written by serviceman Pvt William Albert Betts from Tenterden, who served in World War One in the 10th Light Horse Regiment, in place of a Bible verse. VIP guests include international ambassadors and Federal politicians including Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson and WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith. Gunfire breakfast, Albany Entertainment Centre, 6am to 7.45am The traditional breakfast will be held at the Albany Entertainment Centre, with a $5 entry fee going to the Albany RSL, and a traditional tot of rum on offer with tea and coffee, mirroring the rations Anzac soldiers would have been given in WWI. Troop march, York Street, 10am Troops — including the visiting company of the HMAS Toowoomba — will assemble at the Albany town hall to start their march down York Street. The Albany 10th Light Horse will lead the march with on-foot marchers following the 705 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets with their military band. The march will proceed down York Street and finish at the Anzac Peace Park, ahead of the commemorative service. Commemorative service, Anzac Peace Park, 10.30am This year’s keynote speaker Maj-Gen. Jason Blain will address the crowds at the commemorative service at Anzac Peace Park after the march down York Street. RSL public function, Stirling Club, from noon The Stirling Club will be open from midday with food and drinks, and an Anzac Day raffle with prizes donated from local businesses and proceeds going to the Albany RSL.